Dates

• Existence: 1927 - 2005

Biography

Rowan S. Taylor (1927-2005) was a prolific composer of classical music. He taught at Pierce College in Los Angeles for thirty-nine years.

Rowan S. Taylor was born April 7, 1927. He studied composition at Brigham Young University with notable composers such as Crawford Gates, Leroy Robertson, Lucas Foss and Carl Fuerstner. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University. Taylor taught at Pierce College in Los Angeles for thirty-nine years. Throughout his career he composed 256 symphonies, 46 concertos, 2,502 songs, and 250 chamber works. Other compositions include operas, choral works, ballets, and solo works. He conducted many symphonies, choirs, bands, and orchestras, with his works performed on six continents. Taylor received many honors such as international man of the year, outstanding man of the century, Who's Who of the Year, and is known as the most prolific symphonist. Taylor chaired the Los Angeles Music Festival, an MIA area music festival sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1972, while serving as the president of the Association of Mormon Composers and Performers. Rowan Taylor died September 7, 2005.

Citation:

Clasical Composers, website viewed Mar. 24, 2011: Rowan Taylor (b. Apr. 7, 1927; d. Sept. 7, 2005; taught 39 years at Pierce College in Los Angeles; His A.B. and M.A. are from Brigham Young University; three years additional study at UCLA under Lukas Foss, John Vincent and Thomas Marrocco, Leroy Robertson, Leon Dallin, Carl Fuerstner, Crawford Gates, Lukas Foss and John Vincent; Mar. 2001 results of www.gradeyourprof.com showed him highest graded among professors at Pierce College, fifth highest in the United States; now in 38th year at Pierce College; music performed on six continents; International Man Of The Year (for both 1991 and 1992); Outstanding Man Of The Century (21st Century); inducted into the World Who’s Who Hall of Fame in 1996 by the International Biographical Centre (Cambridge, England); Other honors from this organization include, inclusion in its publications 20th Century Award Of Achievement, Men Of Achievement, International Who’s Who Of Music, International Leaders in Achievement, 2000 Scholars Of The 20th Century and award For Meritorious Achievement and Most Prolific Symphonist)

Classical Composer website, viewed 7/26/12:(Rowan Taylor, born April 7, 1927, died September 7, 2005, taught 39 years at Pierce Collelge in Los Angeles, composer)

BYU files, July 26, 2012: Rowan S. Taylor.

The New Era, August 1972, via www, accessed February 2, 2023 (Chairman of the Los Angeles Area Music Festival, 1972) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1972/08/the-los-angeles-music-festival?lang=eng

AMPCAP notes, volume 1 number 2, October 1973 (At the first annual Southern California Festival of L.D.S. music, there were fifty-five compositions by twenty-three L.D.S. composers; Rowan Taylor president of AMCAP)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: